Dispensing container



un My 1968 F. J. ZUPON 3,387,762

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IG.1

I3 36 INVENTOR.

FRA CIS J.ZUPON 7i ATTORNEYS June M, 1968 F. J. ZUPON DISPENSING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet ;3

Filed Oct. 21, 1965 FIG. '7

F'IG. IO

INVENTOR.

FRANCIS J. ZUPON BYM AT ORNEVS 3,387,762 DESPENSWG tIGNTAINER Francis Ii. Zupon, 7724 Louis Court, Garden City, Mich. 48135 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 4%,663 Qiaizns. (Cl. 229--15) ABSTRAQT @F THE DESCLGSURE An insert-receiving container for milk, cereals, soup or the like is disclosed which comprises a tubular container body having a top closure panel and a bottom closure anel on opposite ends thereof. The container body includes a side wall or panel in which is located a recess or pocket for receiving a text or pictorial-bearing unit. The side pocket is defined by said side wall or panel and an associated cover panel which overlies the side Wall and is secured thereto to hold the insert in the pocket. When the container is opened for use, the side pocket may also be opened without destroying the container body to permit the text or pictorial-bearing unit to be withdrawn from the container body.

A typical dispensing container dealt with by the invention is a plastic coated paperboard one designated the Pure-Pak milk container, such as is the subject matter of Letters Patent No. 2,750,095 of June 12, 1956, a product of the Ex Cell-O Corporation of Detroit, Mich. Others are cartons of cylindrical section used in pack-aging cereals, salt and the like, rectangular boxes for edibles and non-edibles, i.e., powdered or flaked soap, and the like. When used in dispensing potable liquids, the container of the invention may be in various sizes ranging from a pint to a one-half gallon capacity, and may be filled with milk, fruit juices and the like.

As indicated above, the particular improvement of the invention concerns the provision of a pocket or recess in a container side wall, normally sealed from the exterior of the container, in which a card or cards, a leaflet or other printed element containing promotional, advertising or educational text material is disposed. In one basic embodiment of the invention, these inserts are covered from the exterior of the receptacle by certain handle provisions outlined by perforations and creased hinge lines in an outer side panel member or portion of the container, which handle provisions may be in part separated from the remainder of such part or portion and swung outwardly to a position to be grasped by the user in manipulating the container.

Pursuant to one species of this embodiment, the panel member in question is What may be termed a fifth side panel of the container, applied from the exterior to one of the four panels, proper, of the latter, the handle forming provisions being delineated by creased hinging lines, severable slitted or perforated lines, and the like. In another specie, the handle forming provisions are formed in a container of cylindrical shape by creasing, scoring and/or perforating the outer circular wall of the container.

In still a further adaptation in a handle-equipped container, the outlines of the handle means are formed in one of the side walls, proper, of the container by creasing, perforating or slitting that wall, so that the handle means may be separated therefrom and swung outwardly thereof for use. In this adaptation, the wall in ques- 3,387,?62 Patented June 11, 1968 tion is completed and sealed from the interior thereof by a separate fifth panel portion adhered thereto about the area of the handle forming provisions.

To repeat, in any of these three adaptations or forms, or equivalents thereof, the handle-defining means aifords a pocket behind the same for the removable reception of printed or pictorial matter of the type described above.

Other modifications of the invention illustrated herein contemplate the use of pocket-defining means, not necessarily of a handle-providing nature, in which a pocket or recess is aiforded between a side panel, proper, of the container and an outer cover member adherently secured to such panel about the outline of the pocket area which receives the printed or pictorial advertising, educational or promotional content. In one sub-embodiment of this character, access may be had to the insert material by stripping free the outer covering panel portion adherently secured thereto. In another sub-adaptation, the use of a tear string or thread is contemplated. Variation-s in any of the above referred to adaptations or forms will, of course, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. As will appear, it is contemplated that the improvements of the invention may be incorporated in a carton of the pour spout type, typified by the P-ure-Pak milk or potable liquid container, or in a carton of rectangular or circular section which has a simple, removable top closure applied thereto.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more aparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, illustrating one embodiment of the improvement of the invention in a Pure-Pak type of liquid dispensing carton, illustrating the latter before manipulations to bring its handle provisions into position for use and to expose the recess or pocket housing the inserted material, this view representing an embodiment in which such handle-affording means are formed in a separate external fifth panel adhesively juxtaposed to one of four side panels, proper, of the container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container or carton of FIG. 1, with the handle provisions manipulated to an operative position for use, thereby exposing the pocket in which printed or pictorial material is removably received, this view also showing the pouring spout of the container in an open condition;

FIG. 3 is a smaller scale view in horizontal cross section on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the invention, in which the handle and pocket-defining means are formed directly in an outer side panel of the carton or container, which area is then closed and sealed from the interior by a separate adhered panel;

FIG. 5 is a smaller scale view in horizontal cross section along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, but with the carton or container in an original condition as sold;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of a Pure-Pak type dispensing carton lacking the handle provisions of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 5, representing a simplified form in which the insert-receiving pocket or recess is covered from the interior by a single adhered closure member adapted to be removed by stripping it from the side panel of the carton or container;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, partially broken away and in a; U horizontal section on line 77 of FIG. 6, showing the carton of that embodiment with its cover panel partially removed for access to the insert material in the pocket of the carton side wall, the pocket being shown as defined at its rear by an arcuate wall formation;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, in which the pocket is alternatively or optionally formed in a different outline;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a still further carton embodiment, in which an exterior covering panel applied over a pocket in a side wall thereof is exposed for access to the pocket by manipulation of a tear thread or string;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a still further handletype embodiment of the invention in a carton of cylindrical cross section; and

FIG. 11 is a view in horizontal section on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated therein one embodiment, designated 10, of the invention in a pour spout type of carton of the Pure-Pak type. Carton 10 is typically shown as constituted by parallel opposed side walls or panels 11, a front wall or panel 12 (FIG. 3), a rear wall or panel 13 to which the handle and pocket-defining means of the invention are applied, as will be described, a bottom structure 14 of known type, and a top structure 15 incorporating a known type of pour spout means defined by a set of triangular panel portions 16 hingedly articulated to the cover 15 and to the rear wall 13. The top structure 15 is sealed along its ridge by a pair of adhesively connected tabs 17, which are separated along a part of their length when the spout means is open for pouring, as shown in FIG. 2.

To the extent thus described, the carton 10 is entirely conventional and is well known to those skilled in the art, hence will not be elaborated no further.

Pursuant to the invention, as embodied in carton 10, a separate and distinct, fifth rectangular cover panel 13, of shape and area equaling that of the rear side wall panel 13, is fixedly secured in covering relation to the latter by a suitable adhesive 19 applied marginally between the panels 13 and 18, as shown in FIG. 1, thus in effect constituting the panels 13 and 18 a panel unit in which certain handle-defining and pocket closure provisions, generally designated 20, are formed in the outer, fifth panel 18 of such juxtaposed unit.

Thus, the outline 20 will be constituted, in symmetrical position on each side of the vertical center line of panel unit 13, 18, of sets of inner and outer, severable perforations or spaced slits 22, 23, respectively, as shown in dotted line in FIG. 1; and the upper and lower extremities of these perforations or slits are connected by parallel vertical crease or score lines 24 in the outer panel 13, i.e, as shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 1, about which a pair of handle members 26 may be swung outwardly to the operative position for use which is illustrated in FIG. 2. By preference, the lines of severable perforations or spaced slits 23 are shaped between the top and bottom thereof to provide outwardly projecting tabs 27, be neatb which the users fingernail may be inserted in initiating of the partial separation of handle members 26 from the remainder of outer, fifth panel 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, applications of adhesive 19 are made in zones of inner side wall panel 13 other than those overlaid by the material of the handle members outlined in outer panel 18, i.e., between the creased or scored hinge lines 24, thus affording a firm connection of these panels to one another on opposite sides of the handle members. However, such adhesive is omitted in a central rectangular area of inner panel 13 defined between the inner set of perforations or slits 22, and in top to bottom limits between the parallel dotted lines 29 in FIG. 1, for this rectangular area, denoted 30, is the pocket or recess area of the carton 10.

Likewise, adhesive is omitted in a truncated triangular area, slightly above the recess area 30, which is defined between an upper horizontal hinge crease or score 31, a pair of upwardly convergent perforated or slit lines 32 and a bottom slit line 33. These slit or crease provisions are formed in the outer, fifth panel 18, so as to produce a strut or brace tab 34 which is outwardly and upwardly swingable of hinge 31 to the operative position shown in FIG. 2. Tab 34 is slitted at its bottom to mate frictionally against the swung-out handle members 26, thus bracing the latter in their operative position for use shown in FIG. 2.

The removable 'msert material of the improved carton 10, generally designated by the reference numeral 36, is shown in FIG. 2 as exposed to view upon manipulation and bracing of the handle members 26 in the manner described. This material may be of an advertising, promotional, educational or like nature, as desired, in the form of a small leaflet, a card or a set of individual cards, or articulated. panel-like nature. The inadherent surface of the pocket or recess area 30 enables this insert material to be removed or replaced as desired; and it will be evident that the provision for internally pocketing such material contemplated by the invention may well constitute a signficant sales appeal factor for the product packaged in contained 10. Insert 36 is, of course, frictionally retained in place until removal from pocket 30.

In view of the aforementioned description, it appears that the cover panel 18 includes an outer zone 2, an intermediate zone 3, and an inner zone 4. The inner zone 4 is divided into an upper section 5, a center section or central portion 38 and a lower section 6. Adhesive 19 is utilized between the outer zone 2 and the other panel 13 around the entire periphery thereof. The upper and lower sections 5 and 6 of the inner Zone 4 are also connected to the panel 13 by adhesive 19. The intermediate zone 3 is separated from the inner and outer zones 4 and 2 by the preformed tear lines or perforations 22, 23, and 24, etc. to permit the formation of the pair of collapsible handle elements or members 26. The intermediate zone 3 further includes the top and bottom hinge strips 7 and 8 which are secured by adhesive 19 to the panel 13. Thus the handle elements 26 are adapted to move about the creased lines 24 with respect to strips 7 and 8.

FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate an alternative embodiment of the carton, gene-rally designated 40, which closely resembles the container 10, so that corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals, primed, and further description is dispensed with.

The main difference between the two is that the various handle provisions 20, including hin-ging creases, separating perforations or slits, are made in the wall proper 13 of the container, rather than in an auxiliary or fifth outer wall applied thereto, such as the panel 18 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Instead, the lines of perforations or slits 22, 23, 32 and 33-, and the hinge creases or scores 24, 24, 31, having first been formed in the part of the carton blank which includes wall panel 13', the area of the latter is sealed off at its rear by a separate fifth panel 42 of like shape and area. Panel 42 may be of any appropriate material, opaque of transparent, and is adhesively connected by marginal and intermediate applications of glue 43, i.e., in the portions of its area which are not overlain by the handle members 26' and handle bracing strut 34 in the initial condition of the package as sold. For the rest, the mode of using the modified carton 40 is exactly the same as in the case of carton 10, as clearly indicated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a further modified and somewhat simplified version 44 of a carton, in which handle provisions are omitted. In this case (features of carton construction which corresponds to those of FIGS. 1-3 being also indicated by corresponding reference numerals, primed) a side wall, specially designated 45, is initially embossed in a mildly curved outline at 46 (FIG. 7) to afford an arcuate walled recess 47 of rectangular outline, in which an insert 36, depicted as being of an accordion folded nature, is received. It is initially held in place by a preferably, though not necessarily, transparent cover panel 48 which is marginally sealed to the wall panel 45 about the recess or pocket 47, as by means of an appropriate adhesive. Cover panel 48 may be stripped away from wall 45, as shown in FIG. 7, and to facilitate its operation, panel 48 is shown in FIG. 6- as provided with a corner tab 49 giving an initial grip for the user. The cover panel 48 includes an inner zone 76 and an outer zone 72. The inner zone 70 overlies the recess 47 in which is located the insert 3-6. The outer zone 72 is secured to the side wall 45 by an adhesive to retain the removable insert 36 in the pocket 47.

FIG. 9 shows another modification of carton 50- which is essentially the same as container 40, save for the fact that the side wall, specially designated 51, is embossed or indented at 52 in a flat cross section, rather than arcuate; and a cover panel 53 holding the insert 36 in place may thus be brought approximately flush across its area with the wall 51 of the carton to which it is marginally sealed.

The further modification of a carton, designated 54, which appears in FIG. 9 of the drawings (corresponding carton parts being designated by primed reference numerals) is shown as embodying a rectangular frame unit 55 providing a frame aperture 56; and the frame member 55, fabricated of container board or any other appropriate material, is arranged to adhesively overlap both the insert material 57, as applied across the container side wall 58 and a marginal area of the carton surrounding the insert. Thus the latter and the frame 55 become a unit, which is detached from the carton by pulling a tear string or thread 60 going around the outline of the frame.

If desired, a rectangular panel, in lieu of the frame 55, may be fabricated of transparent sheet material and adhesively juxtaposed across the insert material 36. In this case the latter might be pictorial in nature; and additional insert material may then be disposed in a pocket directly behind such element 36, being made accessible upon partial or total removal of the latter when tear thread 60 is pulled.

FIGS. and ll depict a container embodiment 62 according to the invention which closely resembles the container or carton 10 of FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that its body 63 is of cylindrical cross section, rather than rectangular. It also has a circular removable cover, rather than being a pour spout type. Thus, the body proper 63 is constituted by one or more layers 64 of an appropriate paperboard stock adhesively secured at 65 to complete the cylindrical contour. This body 63 is supplemented by a single ply outer wall 66 arcuately juxtaposed on and adhesively secured to the body 63 through a major portion of its area, save for those zones in which the handleproviding perforating, slitting and creasing arrangements are made. These are in all respects similar to the handle structure of FIGS. 1-3, and are similarly manipulated for use.

Accordingly, they are designated by corresponding reference numerals, double primed, and further descriptive detail is dispensed with.

The cylindrical container style 62 is completed at its top and bottom by flanged disc closures 68, 69, entirely conventional in nature, the top closure 68 being removable in the usual style. If desired, it may be provided with a retractable pouring spout, in the manner of a wellknown type of salt dispensing carton. The container is also susceptible of various other alterations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is seen that the invention affords various adaptations of paperboard dispensing container or receptacle, all equipped with novel sales-promoting means in the form of a removable or releasable external panel adapted to give access to some type of insert material 36 which a purchaser may well be desirous of acquiring. The receptacle may be manufactured in great volume at little in crease in cost as compared with conventional receptacles lacking the improved features. This is particularly so in the case of a handle-type container which is formed directly in an existing wall panel of the carton, or in a supplementary external panel of corresponding shape and area applied to such wall panel in juxtaposition to the latter.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An insert-receiving container comprising a tubular container body having a wall panel, a bottom closure panel and a top closure panel on opposite ends of said container body, a recess in the outer surface of said wall panel for receiving a text or pictorial-bearing unit, a removable relatively thin cover panel of a size larger than said recess, said cover panel having an inner zone of the same size as said recess and an outer zone surrounding said inner zone, said cover panel extending completely across said recess to close and seal said bearing unit in said recess, with the inner zone of said cover panel overlying the bearing unit in said recess, and with the outer zone of said cover panel extending beyond said recess and being adhesively secured to the outer surface of said wall panel for retaining said bearing unit in said recess, said bearing unit being adapted to be removed from said recess after the removal of said cover panel from said body.

2. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said recess is in the form of a depression of arcuate contour in said wall surface.

3. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said recess is in the form of a flat depression in said wall surface.

4. The container defined in claim 1 wherein a non-adhesive tab is provided on the upper edge of said cover panel for facilitating the removal of said cover panel from said wall surface.

5. The container defined in claim 1 wherein a tear member is interposed between the wall surface and the outer zone of said cover panel to facilitate separation of said cover panel from said wall surface.

6. An insert-receiving container comprising a tubular container body having a wall panel, a bottom closure element and a top closure element on opposite ends of said container body, a cover panel superimposed over said wall panel, one of said panels having an inner zone, an intermediate zone, and an outer zone, said inner zone including an upper section, a center section and a lower section, said center section being separated from the other panel to provide a non-adherent pocket therebetween, a text or pictorial-bearing unit disposed in said pocket, ad hesive means for securing the outer zone to said other panel around the entire periphery thereof to permanently secure same together, means for adhesively securing said upper and lower sections of said inner zone to the other panel, said intermediate zone being separated from said inner and outer zones by preformed tear lines to permit the formation of a pair of collapsible handle elements which are adapted to be swung outwardly of the container body to an operative position upon use of the container, said intermediate zone including centrally located top and bottom hinge strips to which said handle elements are connected, said hinge strips being adhesively secured to said other panel, said handle elements being adapted to be moved about said hinge strips to an operative position thereby permitting said text or pictorial-bearing unit to be removed from said pocket.

7. The container defined in claim 6 wherein said upper section is provided with a strut element hingedly connected to same and swingable outwardly to engage and brace said handle elements in an operative position.

8. The container defined in claim 6 wherein said one panel is said cover panel, said cover panel being in contact with the outer surface of said wall panel.

9. The container defined in claim 6 wherein said one panel is said wall panel, said cover panel being in contact with the inner surface of said wall panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Misch 229-47 Herrmann 22952 Leonard 229--52 Morgan et a1. 22952 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PIE-SHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

